Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capacity of each species of tree, native or otherwise grown here to sequester various carbons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/21]
View answerCarbon sequestration by forests is influenced by a range of factors including species, soil type, site conditions and management practices. The rate of sequestration changes over time as a forest develops and matures. When forests are young the sequestration rate is low but as the trees mature their ability to sequester carbon dioxide increases.
Earlier this year, Teagasc launched their new Forest Carbon Tool with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This online tool can be used to calculate how much carbon dioxide can be removed by woodlands and highlights the important role of harvested wood products. For example, if one hectare of land is afforested with oak it has the potential to remove 2.31 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually per rotation over the first and subsequent rotations, whereas Sitka spruce has the potential to remove 8.32 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually per rotation over the first and subsequent rotations.
It is important to note that although forests of different species sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at different rates the about of carbon stored in forests is generally broadly similar over time.
Further information can be found on the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/advice/environment/forest-carbon-tool/.
